Michael Bay Takes the Teenage and the Mutant Out of TMNT

03.27.12 by Chris

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Fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Prepare for more meddling from Michael Bay in that cherished cartoon franchise from your childhood.

Intentionally or not, Bay enraged fans earlier this month when he announced that in his movie everyone's favorite heroes in a half shell were going to be from an alien race instead of innocent pets who were transformed into crime-fighting, pizza-loving mutants via green ooze. It now seems Bay is determined to alienate more fans. Today he announced the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles project will simply be called Ninja Turtles.

In a forum post on his website, Bay actually passed the buck on this blasphemous change, instead blaming Paramount.

Paramount marketing changed the name. They made the title simple. The characters you all remember are exactly the same, and yes they still act like teenagers. Everything you remember, why you liked the characters, is in the movie. This script is being developed by two very smart writers, with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles. They care VERY MUCH about making this film for the fans. Everyone on this team cares about the fans. Just give them a chance. Jonathan the director, is a major fan of the whole franchise. HE'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN.

MICHAEL

There you go, it's Paramount's decision. You see, Bay is only the movie's executive director and despite making mountains of Transformers cash for Paramount, Bay has no clout with the studio.

With the movie's release date more than a year and a half away, stay tuned for more changes to this beloved franchise. Next week, Bay plans to announce that the Ninja Turtles will no longer be turtles but alien robots who look like Victora's Secret supermodels.